Arm control appliance



July 3o, 1963 R. c. sALvo ETAL ARM CONTROL APPLIANCE Filed sept. 18. 1961 Muur /A/l/f/v Tow fm m40/vp Q JAL 1/0 .4 oz//f vm 1/0 f Afa/wmv L MA1/0 BY United States Patent O 3,099,448 ARM CONTROL APPLlANCE Raymond C. Salvo, 715 Adams St., Albany, Calif.; Louis Salvo, 546 60th St., Oakland, Calif.; and Norman L. Salvo, 1247 Richmond St., El Cerrito, Calif.

Enea sept. is, 196i, ser. No. 138,914 6 Claims. (Cl. 273-54) This invention relates to athletic accessories, in general, and is particularly directed to an appliance for assisting bowlers in retaining the hand in proper position to release the ball in the most favorable manner.

The most favorable manner of delivering a bowling ball in the consistent attainment of a high score is generally accepted to lbe an impartation of a spinning motion to the ball which causes it to curve from the side of the alley corresponding to the bowlers throwing arm towards the center of the alley as the ball progresses to strike the pins. Where the curved path can ybe perfected to a consistent ycurvature each time the ball is thrown, it is a relatively easy matter to release the ball to a predetermined fixed spot or sighting point of the alley from which the consistent curved path of the ball progresses down the alley through the sot-called head pin pocket. Where the ball curves or breaks into the pocket from the bowlers throwing armside of the alley the chances of knocking all of the pins down and thus attaining a strike are manifestly increased. Of course where the amount of curvature imparted to the ball is not consistent, the ball will not consistently pass through the pocket when the ball is released to the predetermined Spot The desired spinning motion is imparted to the ball by a combination of appropriate arm and hand movements during the forward swing and at the time the ball leaves the hand. Essentially the upper and lower arms are retained in a common vertical plane 4during the forward swing with the forearm being rotated to slightly incline the back of `the wrist and hand relative to the vertical plane with the side of the hand adjacent the thumb towards the outside. As the ball is released the back of the hand and wrist are maintained in their inlclined position and moved upwardly in a follow through motion, sometimes in conjunction with a slight upward snap of the wrist about an axis normal to the inclined position. A considerable forward or top spin is thereby imparted to the ball productive of the desired curved path of movement. Thus in order to impart a consistent amount of curvature to the ball, the hand must be held in the foregoing position productive of the same back of the hand inclination each time the ball is thrown.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an appliance for aiding a bowler in the development of a curve @ball delivery which has consistent characteristics.

Another object of the invention is the pro-vision of an appliance for retaining the hand and arm in proper positions during delivery of a Ibowling -ball to impart a forward or top spin thereto productive of a curved path of movement of the ball.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a bowling aid appliance of the class `described which while being arranged for attachment t-o the upper arm and wrist to hold the hand against movement from a slightly inclined position relative to the plane of arm movement does not interfere with the normal flexing of the arm in a vertical direction during the forward swing of the ball.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide an appliance of the class `described which in no way Fice interferes with the fingers and palm of the hand such that the usual grip on the ball is not impaired.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an appliance of the class described which permits limited movement of the hand in planes parallel to the inclined position in which the hand is retained.

lt is a further object of the invention to provide an appliance of the class described which is readily adjustable to accommodate the arms yof different persons.

The invention possesses other obiects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred `form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to 'be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and ,description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the hand control appliance of the present invention as applied to the right arm of a user.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the appliance of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken at line 3-3- of FIGURE l.

Considering now the invention in some detail and referring to the illustrated form thereof in the drawing, there will be seen to be provided an appliance for attachment to an arm of a user to retain the hand in a predetermined inclined position relative to the central normally vertical plane of the over-all arm, in which positiou the side of the hand adfjacent the thumb is slightly outwardly relative to the side adjacent the little finger. 'Ihis position of the hand, as noted previously, is particularly useful in the delivery of a bowling ball to impart a top or forward spin thereto productive of a curved path of the ball considered to be most favorable in bowling.

More specifically, the appliance includes a pair of preferalbly substantially flat arms 11, 12 which are pivotally connected together at one end, as by means of a pin 13. The arms 11, 12 are adapted for attachment to a lbowlers throwing arm, as indicated at 14, adjacent the interior side thereof, the arm 11 being arranged for attachment to the upper arm portion 16 and the arm 12 to the forearm portion 1'7. When properly secured to the users arm, the pivot pin 13 is opposite the elbow. The appliance arms 11, 12. thus rigidly hold the users upper arm and forearm in a substantially common central plane, usually vertical, while the pivot pin permits free flexing of the users arm at the elbow in this plane.

lf the users hand, as indicated at 18, was permitted to turn to a position substantially normal to the plane of arm movement, which plane would be vertical in the usual forward swing of the users arm during delivery, it will be appreciated that no forward or top spin would be imparted to the ball and same would travel a straight path down the alley. In order for the desired spin to be placed on the ball to the end of producing a curved path, the back of the hand -must be maintained at but a slight inclination to the vertical, the side of the hand adjacent the thumb to the outside. In other words, the hand must be twisted only slightly about .an axis parallel to the plane of movement of the over-all arm. Therefore, in accordance with the invention, the appliance arm 12 is adapted to rigidly hold the forearm in a slightly turned position which maintains the plane of the back of the hand in the above noted inclined position. More explicitly, the arm l12 is preferably twisted at a position intermediate its ends, as indicated at l119, the side faces of the lower end portion Z1 of the arm 12 being slightly outwardly and upwardly inclined relative to the side `faces of the remaining upper portion 22 thereof, viz., from the over-all side plane of the appliance. In other words, in an appliance for a right handed bowler, the lower end portion 21 is twisted clockwise relative to upper portion 22. A plate 213 is secured transversely to the outer side of the free end of lower end portion 121, such plate being curved to iit the inner side face of the wrist to insure the proper position of the hand. The connection of the plate to the appliance arm is preferably pivotal, a pivot pin 24, for example, being utilized to secure the members together. Thus, when the arm 1'1 is attached to the upper arm of a user and the plate l23 is attached to the wvrist, by virtue of the twist 19 the forearm is correspondingly twisted and the hand is retained in the desired slightly inclined position with the thumb to the outside, relative to the plane ofmovement of the users arm `during a forward swing thereof. Moreover, inasmuch as the plate 23 is pivotal, movement of the hand in the inclined plane in which it is retained is permitted such that yfree control of the ball with the lingers is facilitated. By virtue of the hand being held in the desired inclined position, forward or top spin is thus imparted to the ball upon the delivery thereof. Since the hand inclination is always retained the same by the appliance, the amount of curvature in the resulting path of the ball is readily developed to be consistent.

The means `for attaching the appliance Ato the users arm, preferably comprises straps 26, 27, 28. More specie-ally, the arm 11 is best -formed with enlarged outwardly flared sections 29, 31 respectively adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof. The flared sections are provided lwith parallel longitudinally extending slots 32, 33 adjacent their sides. Similarly, the plate 23y is provided with slots 34. The straps 26, 27 .respectively extend through the slots of the ared sections `29, 3&1 and the strap 2S extends through the slots of the plate 23. The straps are hence oriented transverse to the side of the appliance and when secured about the arm of a user attach the appliance in proper operable position.

lt is, of course, necessary that the appliance arms '11, 12 be of suitable lengths to correspond to the upper arm and lforearm of a user. The lengths of the arms 11, 12 must be such as to dispose the pivot 13 adjacent the users elbow and the plate 23 at the wrist. -Inasmuch as the lengths of the upper arm and yforearm of different users vary considerably, the appliance arms '11, 12 are preferably adjustable in their lengths such that different users may be readily facilitated. To this end, the upper and lower portions 22, 21 of arm 12 are best provided as sepj arate -sections arranged to partially overlap each other and having pluralities of registering longitudinally spaced apertures v36 receiving a pair of threaded fasteners 67. By varying the registry between the particular apertures of the respective sections that receive the fasteners, the length of the arm 12 may hence -be varied. Similarly, arm L1 is best provided in two partiallyoverlapping sections 3S, 5

39 having apertures 41 in registry and receiving a pair of lfasteners 42,.

What is claimed is:

l. A hand control appliance particularly useful in bowling comprising rst and second arms pivotally connected together at one end, said first arm adapted for attachment to the upper arm portion of a user adjacent the interior side thereofwith the pivotal connection between the arms adjacent the elbow, said second arm adapted for disposition adjacent the interior side of the forearm and attach- Iment to the Wrist, said `second arm including means for retaining the hand in a slightly inclined position relative to the planes of the arms at said pivotal connection.

2. A hand control appliance particularly useful in bowling comprising first and second substantially iiat arms pivotally connected together at one end, said second arm having a twist intermediate its ends to incline the sides of the free end thereof upwardly and outwardly relative to the sides of the pivoted end thereof, means for attaching said first arm to the upper arm portion of a user adjacent the inner side of said upper arm portion and the pivoted end of said second arm adjacent the elbow, and means for attaching the free end of said first arm to the wrist of the user to hold same parallel to the sides of the free end of the `rst arm.

3. A hand control appliance according to claim 2, further dened by said first and second arms being each adjustable in length.

4. A bowling accessory appliance for controlling hand movement of a bowler comprising first and second substantially flat arms pivotally connected together at one end, said second arm having a twist intermediate its ends to incline the sides of the `free end thereof upwardly and outwardly relative to the sides of the pivoted end thereof, a wrist plate pivotally secured to the free end of said second `arm transversely thereto, said wrist plate being conformed to the inner side `face of the 4w-rist of a user, means for securing said first arm to the upper arm portion of a user adjacent the inner side of the upper arm portion with the pivoted end of the first arm `adjacent the elbow, and means for securing said wrist plate t-o the wrist of a user adjacent the inner side face thereof.

5. A bowling accessory appliance according to claim 4, further dened by said rst and second arms being respectively adjustable in length.

6. A bowling accessory appliance according to claim 5, further defined by said means for securing said first arm to the upper arm portion of a user comprising at least one strap secured transversely to said first arm, and said means i for securing said wrist plate to the wrist of a user cornprising a strap secured to the Wrist plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,340,630 Maddox May 1S, 1920 1,466,487 Shaffer Aug 28, 1923 2,661,000 Gazeley et al Dec. 1, 1953 

1. A HAND CONTROL APPLIANCE PARTICULARLY USEFUL IN BOWLING COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND ARMS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TOGETHER AT ONE END, SAID FIRST ARM ADAPTED FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE UPPER ARM PORTION OF A USER ADJACENT THE INTERIOR SIDE THEREOF WITH THE PIVOTAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ARMS ADJACENT THE ELBOW, SAID SECOND ARM ADAPTED FOR DISPOSITION ADJACENT THE INTERIOR SIDE OF THE FOREARM AND ATTACHMENT TO THE WRIST, SAID SECOND ARM INCLUDING MEANS FOR RETAINING THE HAND IN A SLIGHTLY INCLINED POSITION RELATIVE TO THE PLANES OF THE ARMS AT SAID PIVOTAL CONNECTION. 